Friday, July 10, 2015

Who will succeed Zimbabwean
President Robert Mugabe? - has been the most important question within Zimbabwe over the past few years. This
question is so pivotal that policy formulation and implementation have been at
a standstill. Political manoeuvring over who will replace Mugabe has paralysed
the once impregnable Zanu-PF, and the resulting economic implosion is taking a
devastating toll on the people and infrastructure. Although this may sound irrational in
relation to a 91-year-old leader who has been in power for nearly four decades,
when it comes to Mugabe nothing ever makes ordinary sense.

To the die-hard Indian fan,
that is no Q – but who is Donald Tatenda Tiripano was ? – he was partnering the
centurion Elton Chingumara as Zimbabwe needed mere 10 off the last 6 deliveries. Remember, Indians did not do too well with
their full team in Bangladesh recently and have embarked this tour with a
second string XI which however is expected to do well. Set to score 256, Zimbabwe almost achieved
that with Chingumara’s ton – but a good tight last over from Bhuvanesh Kumar
prevented and gave India a close win.
Indian bowlers other than Bhuvi went for runs.

Earlier, Ambati Rayudu's unbeaten 124 off 133 balls and a good knock of 77 by Stuart Binny – and their highest sixth-wicket partnership in ODIs - 160
runs in 147 balls - set Zimbabwe a target of 256 in Harare. Zimbabwe’s motley medium pacers did well to
reduce the side to half but failed to contain in the last few. M Vijay, playing his first ODI in two years, failed – so did Manoj Tiwary failing to
utilise that elusive chance when it came; Robin Uthappa made a poor call to be run out
for a duck and Kedhar Jadhav fethered an edge to the keeper for 5.

Even as India and Pakistan
struggled in Bangladesh, South Africa is asserting their supremach.South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada set a
new ODI record today against Bangladesh at Mirpur.

Kagiso Rabada took 6 for 16 - the best
figures by any bowler on ODI debut - and became only the second bowler to take
a hat-trick on ODI debut, after Taijul Islam, as South Africa burst
Bangladesh's bubble after months of success for the hosts in the format.
Bangladesh looked a shadow of the line-up that posted had totals over 200 - and
twice over 300 - against Pakistan and India recently as slumped to their lowest
total this year.

South African pacer Kagiso
Rabada destroyed the Bangladeshi top-order. He bowled out Tammim Iqbal, Litton
Das and Mahmudullah for ducks.

Three batsmen left the crease without scoring a
run. In the rain affected match, SA is making a chase and should win
easily. Rabada earlier sliced through
Australia's Under-19 team at the age-group World Cup in Dubai in February 2014,
his 6 for 25 took his team to a place the senior South Africa side has never
been to: a World Cup final. South Africa's Under-19s won that event and Rabada
finished as their highest wicket-taker.